My take on the PXW-FX9

DSC_0385-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The new Sony PXW-FX9

So I’m sure you are by now aware that Sony have just launched a new camera, the PXW-FX9. I’m not going to repeat all the information that’s already in the press release or on the Sony website.

 

But instead I’m going to reflect a bit on what it’s actually like to work with, having been privileged enough to have spent a fair bit of time with various pre-production FX9’s (originally it was going to be all black and not the metallic grey that the production units will be).

Let’s be quite clear. The FX9 is not a souped up FS7 II. Although on the outside it may look similar, under the hood it is very, very different. For a start the full frame 6K sensor in the FX9 is completely new, designed specifically for this camera. What I find interesting about the sensor is that although the camera can’t do anamorphic and can only currently do 16:9 UHD (17:9 4K DCI will come in a later firmware update) it is a full height 4:3 sensor and it isn’t masked. So just maybe, anamorphic or other aspect ratios will be possible in the future. Talking to the engineers, anamorphic isn’t on the official road map, but it’s not a closed door.

DSC_0430-2-e1568982363938-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The PXW-FX9’s sensor

 

My first thought was that the decision down sample from the full frame 6K to UHD and later 4K DCI is a little disappointing, as I am sure we would all love to have the ability to record in 6K as an option. But on the other, the way the down sampling helps to clean up the sensor output, reducing noise is very welcome.

You also have to remember that a camera like the FS7 that uses a 4K bayer sensor will not be producing an image with 4K resolution. Because of the way bayer sensors work, a 4K bayer sensor will result in a recording with luma resolution around 3K depending on what you are shooting. The chrom resolution will be even less than that. But start with a 6K sensor and the 4K recordings will actually be 4K resolution with better color resolution than possible form a 4K sensor. So the images from the FX9 do look sharper and have greater clarity than those from an FS7 because they are higher resolution. But the file size is exactly the same. No need to change your workflow, no need to store bigger files, but you have more recorded resolution and better color. Great for chroma key etc.

DSC_0421-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
Side view of the PXW-FX9

Perhaps one of the most striking differences in image quality between the FS7 and the FX9 is the lack of noise. When shooting S-Log3 the FX9 has much less noise at 4000 ISO than the FS7 at 2000 ISO. At 800 ISO the FX9 is just a little bit better again. There is less fixed pattern noise and less noise in the shadow areas. In practice what this means is that there is no need to offset the exposure when shooting log with the FX9 as there often is with the FS7. Like any camera using log you never want to be under exposed, but the FX9 works great at either of its base ISO for log producing clean largely noise free images.

DSC_0406-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The PXW-FX9 has 4 audio control dials.


This is a big deal because the FX9 also has a huge dynamic range, I’ve measured well over 14 stops using a DSC Xyla test chart and am not going to argue with Sony’s 15+ stop claim. I counted 16 steps on the chart from the FX9, but how useable the bottom 2 are is open to some debate. The FS7 only exhibited 14 steps when we measured the two cameras side by side and the difference between the 2 was clear to see, including all the extra noise in the FS7 images. In practice the combination of this huge dynamic range and low noise level means you get a greater usable highlight range than the FS7, FS5 or F5/F55 and you still retain an amazing shadow range. There’s no S-Log2 in the FX9 as S-Log2 can’t capture the cameras full dynamic range.

With the camera dealing so well with very big brightness and contrast ranges, what about color? While it’s possible to make almost any log camera look almost any way you wish, the question becomes – how easy is it to make it look nice? I’ve shoot quite a few short films with Sony’s Venice camera over the last 18 months and the footage from Venice is easy to work with, it’s hard to get it wrong with Venice. The FX9 is very, very similar. Straight out of the camera skin tones look good and contain lots of subtle texture and detail. When you use the s709 LUT highlights roll off in a pleasing, smooth manner. If you are given a choice between an FS7 and FX9 it will be an easy decision because the FX9 material is easier to work with in the grading suite. Take footage from the FX9 into ACES and it looks beautiful without any LUT or other correction.

DSC_0413-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The FX9 has a large multifunction dial for menu navigation or iris/ND control. It’s right at the front of the camera body, easy to find, easy to operate.


One thing that really helps this is the ability to dial in any white balance you want, along with a tint shift, in the CineEI mode.

So far I have only been working with the class 300 XAVC files from the FX9. As many of my readers will know I am a big fan of 16 bit raw. So I am very excited about what this camera will be capable of delivering in the future when the 16 bit raw output is implemented. I think there is a bit of a question over “can you really call 6K down sampled to 4K raw – raw”? But, I think that provided it is still essentially the same data as produced by the sensor, just re-scaled, then yes, it is a kind of raw and it should bring amazing post production flexibility, provided it can be recorded in such a way that the file sizes remain manageable. Atomos have already announced that their Neon image processor is capable of handling the 16 bit raw at 4K and 120fps. So my guess would be that by the time the firmware updated needed to enable the raw becomes available there will be an affordable Shogun Neon recorder. Some have asked – what about using the R7 and X-OCN? Well that would be cool, but how many FX9 buyers want to spend $14K for an R7 with a couple of cards and a reader? Oh – hurry up Sony and Atomos – I want 16 bit, Full Frame, 120fps 4K now, not next year 🙂

DSC_0417-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The FX9 has a switche for preset white balance, but you can dial in any white balance you want in custom and CineEI.

One small down side of having to read out almost twice as many pixels when reading the sensor at 6K instead of 4K is that there is a bit more rolling shutter when using the 6K full frame mode. Of course nobody likes or wants this, me included. It isn’t terrible, the camera is still very usable in 6K, but you should be aware of it for any rapid pans or large amounts of horizontal motion. In the 4K super 35mm mode the rolling shutter is similar to the current FS7/F5 etc. The other restriction is the upper limit of 30fps in the 6K full frame mode. To address this, in a later firmware update, a 5K mode which uses 83% of the full frame sensor, half way between super 35mm and full frame, will be added. This will go up to 60fps when recording to UHD. I do like the fact that you can use the full frame readout for HD at up to 120fps. There is some pixel binning when in S&Q, but it looks like it’s being done really well and I’ve only really noticed artifacts on very bright specular highlights (and this is on pre-production cameras). More testing will be needed to see just how good this is. It certainly isn’t grainy like the FS7 is in S&Q.

Once again we see Sony’s variable ND filter system. This is the biggest variable filter they have done. When the ND filter isn’t engaged there is now an extra optical flat glass included between the lens and sensor to maintain a completely constant back focus distance.  Because the sensor is attached to the variable ND filter system and fitted with a heatsink to maintain a constant temperature it isn’t possible to use IBIS as the assembly would be too heavy to move fast enough to compensate for motion. Instead The FX9 has a metadata system that will use the cameras built in motion sensors to record the cameras motion. Then you will be able to use this metadata to stabilise your footage in post production. This will work in Catalyst Browse from the day the camera becomes available for sale and Sony are working with Adobe etc to have plugins available for the major NLE’s soon after. 

DSC_0424-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
Improved menu layout in the FX9


Even though the post production stabilization (which will be variable) needs to zoom into the image a bit, again it’s worth noting that because the full frame mode results in a recording with 4K higher resolution than say an F5 or FS7, even after the zoom in, the image still has higher resolution and better detail than most 4K bayer can deliver.

Talking of Catalyst Browse, there will also be a new version of Content Browser mobile for the FX9 that will allow you to remotely control the camera over wifi, better still the camera will provide a live video feed over the wifi link for monitoring on your phone or tablet. The latency isn’t terrible, around 4 frames. The camera body has wifi built in, no more need to add a dongle. If you want to stream over 4G or 5G then the new extension unit has a pair of USB ports for 2 mobile network dongles.

300x250_xdcam_150dpi My take on the PXW-FX9

Ergonomically there have been some big improvements over the FS7. There are now many different ways to control the menu system (which is now laid out more like the Venice camera than the FS7). There is the joystick on the handgrip (which is now shaped more like the FS5 handgrip). There is a set of up/down, left/right, select push buttons on the side of the camera as well as my favourite which is a big jog dial knob that protrudes slightly from the front of the camera (ENG cameras used to have a knob like this and ot was great on them). This is just about big enough to be operated when wearing gloves.

Another improvement is the use of illuminated buttons for the buttons that select the various auto modes. When you select an auto function, such as auto gain, a light comes on to let you know it’s set to auto. Furthermore, you now have to press the button for a about 3 seconds to get it to switch into auto. This should help prevent accidental button bumps from putting the camera into a mode you don’t want to be in.

DSC_0416-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
FX9 buttons illuminate to indicate auto operation.


There’s no shortage of user assignable buttons on the FX9. Perhaps too many? The camera really is covered in buttons! But that does mean you can do some nice things like assign the high/low ISO range change to one of the buttons to switch instantly between base ISO’s.

The great news for those that shoot using CineEI and log is that LUT’s are available in S&Q when recording UHD up to 60fps. The bad news is that above 60fps, when you have to record at HD you can’t separate the LUT between monitor LUT and baking it in. However all is not lost because the camera has viewfinder gamma assist. This applies a vanilla Rec-709 LUT to the viewfinder. It’s only going to be on the viewfinder and it doesn’t change of you change the EI, but at least you don’t have to look at the S-Log image, you can still look at a correct 709 image. Given that because of it’s much lower noise levels I don’t feel that this camera needs the exposure offsets that the FS7 needs, this is not too bad a compromise. Most of the time you will be able to shoot at 800ISO/800EI or 4000ISO/4000EI, so the viewfinder gamma assist LUT will do the job – look in the viewfinder – if it looks right, it probably is right. Oh – and in addition, the S&Q HFR is much less noisy than from the FS7.

Another thing that will make S-Log3 shooters very happy is the ability to change the white balance beyond the 3 built in presets. You can dial in whatever white balance you want including a tint adjustment, just like Venice. You can also use a white or grey card to automatically set the white balance when shooting log. So getting rid of a green cast from dodgy LED lights will be much easier.

Then there’s the autofocus.

Damn you Sony – now I’m going to have to buy some new lenses! I have to admit, I have always looked down on autofocus as an inferior way to focus a video camera. Largely because I have never had a camera where the autofocus has worked as well as I would like. Sony’s  little PXW-Z90 does have a very impressive autofocus system, but with a smaller sensor that is easier to do. Canon have pretty good autofocus on some of their cameras too. But the FX9 has me rethinking how I will approach focus for many shoots. It really is incredibly impressive. It is a hybrid phase and contrast based system that has phase detection sites across almost the entire sensor. It has been designed specifically for video. It has eye detection and face recognition, so you can tell exactly which face in a crowd you want it to focus on. It doesn’t hunt, it just locks on and holds focus. It’s also fully programmable so you can adjust the hold and release sensitivity as well as the focus shift speed. This allows you to make the way the auto focus works look like it’s being done by a human. Often autofocus is too fast, too snappy. You can have that too if you want, but having the ability to slow it down a touch really helps it feel much more natural.

For so many applications this amazing autofocus system is going to be a godsend. Gimbal and Stedicam users will benefit for a start. Anyone shooting fast moving people will benefit. I can see it being a huge help for me when shooting up in the arctic with bulky gloves and mittens or a fogged up and frozen viewfinder! I can see the FX9 finding a place on big budget movie shoots for shots where conventional focus method would otherwise prove challenging. But, you will need Sony E-Mount lenses to get the very best out of it, hence in part why Sony are also releasing new E-mount cine style lenses.

One more note: The camera does have genlock and timecode in/out – on the camera body. You don’t need the extension unit for TC in and out.

DSC_0401-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
PXW-FX9 Timecode and genlock are now on the camera body.


In case you haven’t realised by now, I am quite excited by the FX9. It ticks a lot of boxes. You get a state of the art full frame sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range. You have dual base ISO’s of 800 and 4000. You get Venice like color science. So the images look beautiful right out of the camera. Less noise means no need to offset your exposure so you can record more highlight information and shooting is easier. You retain E-Mount versatility, once again you can put just about any lens you want on the camera via low cost adapters. But now in addition you also get an amazing, truly useful autofocus system.

No change on the codec front or media, so that keeps life simple. But 16 bit raw in the future for what should be amazing image quality and post production flexibility (you will need the new XDCA FX9 extension unit for raw). I don’t need to buy new base plates as existing FS7 plates will fit, as will most top plates. There is a small change on the top of the camera as every opening now has water and dust sealing gaskets around it – the FX9 is very well sealed against bad weather and dust. So some FS7 top plates may not fit around the hole where the handle plugs in.

It takes the same BP-U batteries, so I don’t need to buy different batteries. But it does use more power, around twice as much as the FS7. The penalty you have to pay for a bigger sensor with more pixels and more processing power for LUT’s in more modes.

The viewfinder is much improved. It still has the same square rods as the FS7 MkII, which won’t be to everyone’s taste. But the display is now sharper and that makes focussing much easier. The new screen is 720P (the FS7 is 540P I think). So it’s already clearer and sharper. But on top of that the peaking has been improved and better still the focus mag is now very good. Zoom in and it doesn’t go all blocky and muddy, it remains clear and sharp. 

DSC_0410-2-1024x576 My take on the PXW-FX9
The much improved PXW-FX9 viewfinder.


There isn’t much not to like about the FX9 when you consider the price. If my clients could afford it I would love to have a Venice. But the reality is few of them can afford Venice. Besides, Venice is big and heavy. For my travels and adventures I think the FX9 is going to be a perfect fit and I can’t wait to shoot some more with one.

40 thoughts on “My take on the PXW-FX9”

    1. Not sure at this stage, but it’s at least as big as the FS7 and appears to emcompasses all of Pointers gamut and that’s the important one. With there being no TV’s and very, very few monitors that can actually show all of 2020 you’ll never see any difference anyway, unless you have a BVM-X310. Most TV’s are still struggling to show all of P3.

    1. Controlled via the multifunction dial on the left side front of the camera or via the assignable dial on the hand grip. They work really well.

  1. It’s been 2 years since we bought our Fs7ii. I found it the best camera for documentary work and for short films.
    But I can’t believe how much they improved their offerings with the FX9.
    Well done Sony!!!
    Naturally I want one. But the Fs7 has many years left to squeeze out of it.
    Just my thoughts.

    Thanks!!

  2. Thanks very much for an informative and exciting review Alister. If you see this and have a moment I have 2 questions:
    1- Do you know if the real names of LUT’s will appear in the EVF screen rather than simply #1 , 2 3 or 4. That would be as simple but helpful advance.

    2- Can the FX9 match the FS7 either in custom mode or using Slog3 in Cine EI.
    I plan to get the FX9, but currently get many rentals and work as a shooter for clients needing a 2nd or 3rd FS7. Would hate to lose all that work.

    1. At release user upload of LUT’s is not possible. So I don’t know how this will be handled when it is implemented.

      The FX9 has a legacy mode in Custom that has all the same gamma curves as an FS7. The sensor is different so there will be some small differences but I expect a near match will be possible.

      1. Thanks again Alister. Legacy mode is very reassuring. Unfortunately no uploadable user LUTs isn’t. I hope you’ve let them know that will be quite a loss for users. Being able to white balance in Cine EI will of course remove some of my own need for User LUT’s but its still something I rely on to create my own look on a shoot. LC709A is a pretty flat and dull look.
        Don’t understand why they would hobble the camera like that when they already have the software written in the FS7.

        1. User uploadable LUT’s will come in a firmware update. You do now have s709 as a LUT which is nothing like LC709. You can’t use the FS7’s firmware on the FX9 the hardware is totally different. I don’t think people really understand just how far removed from the FS7 the FX9 hardware is.

          1. Thanks again Alister.
            Are you saying that you ONLY have s709 available now as a LUT , not even LC709A? That would be disturbing . I’m sure I’m not the only person who is hoping to be able to use his FX9 as a second camera alongside an FS7. I would expect some minor differences , but so far in my experience it is very easy to run an F55 alongside an FS7 and infact I’ve been using the same Matrix in Custom for pretty much perfect matches on the EX-1, F3 and the FS7 for years . I was hoping that would still be possible and hopefully should also be good in Cine EI with the same LUT.
            (Oddly on the FS7 I had to set the phase to around -8 but once I did my old EX-1 MATRIX is a near perfect match aside from better highlights on the FS7 . Doesn’t look the same on a vectorscope but it works on the monitor – go figure!)

  3. Thanks, you have helped me with a big decision. I just purchased a NEW FS7M2 from B&H Photo August 12 and then I got the notice from Sony about the FX9 – what to do. B&H will accept a return with full credit but I could not make up my mind if the additional cost of the MK9 was worth it. Guess I will take the leap and jump off the edge.

  4. Hello Alister, Great read and the FX9 very timely.
    Re The other restriction is the upper limit of 30fps in the 6K full frame mode. To address this, in a later firmware update, a 5K mode which uses 83% of the full frame sensor, half way between super 35mm and full frame, will be added. This will go up to 60fps when recording to UHD.
    So again 5K is a mode … we aren’t recording in 5K to shoot 60P it is actually UHD. That is a big shame..

  5. Hi Alister

    Does the record light stay on when you turn the display markers etc off in the vf unlike the fs7?
    Cheers

    Mike

  6. Very informative thanks! Quick question regarding S35 mode. I presume that’s not a 6k downscale but just a crop in on the sensor? Did you notice any real difference in the image, compared with the 6-4k FF? I have a Fuji MK and it would be a shame to have to sell it.

  7. Hi Alister,
    Can you confirm if the dual iso works on both slog and the custom S-Cinetone modes or just the slog?
    Mank thanks–Ajit

  8. Great stuff Alister,

    Any chance of Sony or another manufacturer coming out with an extension cable for the MI shoe? Having four channels of Audio in will be fantastic, but putting one the the Sony dual XLR units on top of the handle at the front of the camera is asking for trouble in the doc world as I’m sure you know.

    With an 12 inch – 18 inch extension cable one of the Sony XLR units could be mounted on a top plate center right where a camera mic would be better protected.

    1. It would be a good idea and some people have created their own, but they can be susceptible to noise and interferrence. The new digital MI show will be more robust in that regard.

      1. Alister is the XLR-K1M, K2M and K3M the only way to get another two XLR’s into the camera? What would be great is a very small unit with Two XLR’s with an extension that runs to the MI shoe. I can see on the side of the camera you can choose:
        – Ext
        – MI (Does this have a +48 option on the side of the camera under that cover?)
        -INT

        I don’t want to use the dock or buy the Sony radio mics, just have two more XLR inputs for a stereo camera mic with +48v.

        One would think a lot of productions/doco shooters would?

        Thanks for all your help and work on this new camera!

  9. Hi Alister,
    In your opinion would the S35 mode have the same quality as the full frame mode or would it be a bit inferior in terms of resolution?

    1. The s35 mode will not offer the same quality as 6KFF. In FF scan you are starting at 6K and downsampling. This will mean you will get full 4K resolution better colour and lower noise than iof you start with just 4K of pixels. s35 mode will of course benefit from the sensors lower noise, higher DR and better color, so it will be better than an FS7/F5 etc, but the best results will come from 6KFF.

      1. Inferior enough to sell off my 18-110 lens and by a full frame version?? Have a number of s35 lenses that I use with my FS5 so I really hope the difference is not so great that i need to reinvest….

  10. Is the 4k Raw output confirmed to be a full sensor (6k downscale to 4k)? Will there be 12 bit options so that we can record prores raw with current Atomos Shogun inferno/Shogun 7? or are we going to have to tether to a crazy expensive neon setup? Did I also read correctly that the HDMI can only do 30P out in UHD?

    1. The FF6K will be downsampled to 4K. at 24fps it will be 16bit at higher frame rates it will drop to 12bit and at 120fps 10bit. The fine details are not full known yet, so whether there will be an option to choose between 16bit and 12bit I don’t know.

  11. So I’ve decided to sell my FS7 and purchase the FX9. One of my concerns; some of the test footage I’ve downloaded shows an extraordinary number of stuck pixels. Did you (Alister) see this as an issue?

    1. No, never seen any stuck pixels. The FX9 has APR just like all of Sony’s other similar cameras to deal with any. It flags up an “Execute APR” message from time to time (I think it’s every 2 weeks or thereabouts) to remind you to do it.

      1. Perfect, I’ve decided to “pull the trigger” on the FX9 and replace my FS7. Hopefully there aren’t any issues with first gen production models. SONY is pretty good about field testing prior to release. Thanks again for your evaluation of this product!

  12. Do you believe Sony will update other cameras, too, in order to provide stabilisation data? Is it even technically possible? I think this would be a huge update, for let’s say FS5M2, which has never been updated as far as I know. FX9 it’s a great deal in my opinion, but it is still too expensive for some videographers. Do you believe Sony will take care of its “poor” customers?

      1. Thanks for replying Alister, really appreciate it. Well, does she? I’m wondering… As I had a terrible experience with Sony support. They never answered me this simple “yes or no” question and after several emails, in which one team was sending me to another, they asked me for an invoice of my FS5 in order to answer me this simple question. I never got a reply finally… I admit I was not expecting this from Sony. Anyway, I see you may not be aware if fs5 has these sensors, too, but if you do know, please let us know. I’ve found nothing with some searching in the web. Thanks again!

        1. I doubt that even if it could do it, that it would be added to a product that is now 4 years or more old. It is more likely to be held over for the next model now as a product differentiator. As information about whether or not this or any other feature is to be added to a camera is commercially sensitive I would not expect it to be divulged by Prime support or a service center. You would have to wait for an official release. Sony don’t want to tell the competition what they might or might not be doing in the future.

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